When Spring Comes to the DMZ

This book is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Even though it is a children’s’ book, I learned a lot about the Koreas. The pictures are gorgeous and reflect the story of the three different groups (the animals, the soldiers, and the family). I would recommend this book to anyone, whether you have children or not as it is a good educational tool for all.

Did you know that the DMZ, the zone between the two Koreas, is effectively a wild life refuge, and that people no one lives there, some plants and animals that live there, live no where else. So, it is not so odd a think to go and visit the observation deck and look out into it.

A very different sort of picture book, that juxtaposes the wild life with the armies that also live right on the edge of the zone.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4517" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-05-at-10.33.47-PM.png" alt="DMZ" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-4516" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Screen-Shot-2018-09-05-at-10.34.05-PM.png" alt="DMZ" />

Good book to teach about the area, and also reflect on what has happened all these years.

Probably a little deep for a picture book, but it can also be read as a beautiful reflection on wildlife.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

How many non-Korean heritage kiddos in the U.S. (or other non-Asian majority countries) know anything about the Korean peninsula? I'd say it'd be less than 10% have heard more than a passing mention and fewer know the history or real impact on the people of that part of the world.

This book would be a necessary addition to the libraries of families or teachers who want to raise multi-culturally diverse kids. We're learning more about the North Korean and South Korean dynamic in the news as adults. This book makes it digestible for young learners through its recurrent use of the razor-wire fence among the nature in the illustrations and the repetition of the grandfather character staring at the northern sky. Eventually, the reader learns more about what it would be like to live with that DMZ symbol always looming in the distance and the impact it has had on families.

The prose quality is decent from sentence to sentence, made better by the slow reveal of the grandfather's story. The illustrations have poignant composition (the ever-present fence is a powerful communicator) and good quality. I can hear little voices asking lots of questions throughout the book's read aloud. Thankfully, the author included historical facts in the back of the book so adults and kids can learn together.

I enjoyed reading When Spring Comes to the DMZ. It is a simple book that holds intense levels of emotion. I read this book nine times continually gaining a better appreciation for those who have experienced the loss of a country.


The pencil drawings throughout this book are colorful, detailed, and fragile. Mother Nature continues to breath life into the passing seasons totally unaware of the wire fence that divides North and South Korea. Rain or shine Grandfather faithfully climbs the expansive stairs leading to the DMZ observatory with his grandson to breathe in the beauty of the northern sky. It goes unsaid yet understood that Grandfather shares his life experiences with his grandson. Daily they bear witnesses to wildlife returning season after season to hatch their young who are completely un-phased by the material division of the two areas. Soldiers from North and South Korea have daily routines, have families, gaze upon the same moon, yet their military ambitions divide them. The author beautifully portrays the stark presence of the military which taints the reader's emotions with a cloud of sadness to the realization that the beauty and freedom of this prior way of life has been lost. As Grandfather loyally climbs the observatory steps day after day he too comes to terms with the emptiness of the northern land. The story draws to a close when Grandfather no longer wants to climb the expanse of steps to view the locked gates, barricades and stop signs. Instead he wants to walk out into the green meadows and lie in the sunny grass looking up at the blue sky of his beloved home country..

Uk-Bae Lee does an excellent job creating a children's book gentle enough to introduce the conversation regarding the divide of South Korea and the North Korea--which, I hope that any children that I would ever have would care about (mostly because I care so much about what God is doing there), without over introduction to the terrible reality that has ripped apart the two countries and has isolated an entire population under a totalitarian dictator. (Wow, that was a really long sentience for a children's book review! Sorry!)

The artwork is gentle and sweet as it walks us through the season changes across the DMZ along with the introduction to the grandfather that longingly looks across the divide. Amid pictures of fish and birds the barbed wire that characterizes the DMZ's edges pokes through.

The author, Uk-Bae Lee is a part of a collaboration of other writers and illustrators that wants to introduce children to peace and the hopes for it. This book is a part of that.

With a push for multicultural education I appreciate that this book doesn't work to scare children but introduces the reality gently. This might not be your child's favorite book, and that is fine, but it could start conversations about what is happening in another part of the world. Lee has also added some information after the story for parents (or the questioning child) about the how the divide began as well as what is currently happening across the mile and a half of land separating the North from the South.

I received an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

A wonderfully political and poetic look at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. I particularly loved the character of the grandfather and how he dreams of a peaceful resolution between the two governments.

Wow. I'd have always thought that if a space could be used by wildlife or humans, the better choice would be for it being used by wildlife. But the DMZ is a rare case – a place that humans cannot go, for the worst reasons. So this accidental animal sanctuary – bursting with diverse life, as the lovely artwork here proves – ought perhaps to be forgotten about, torn down and returned to use by mankind. It's a very rare occasion when anyone would say that, but this is a rare occasion, and the issues of the whole thing are summarised so wonderfully by this young reader. I'll even ignore the text saying the border is alongside the river, and the artwork having it crossing it. The impact of the ending – with a whopping eight-page fold-out spread to encompass everything – is going to last. I've given books for this age range five stars for nailing an obvious moral – this has a non-obvious moral, and I'll leave it at that. Just wow.

This picture book is beautifully illustrated and simply but movingly written.

The DMZ, or demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, has become an unexpected sort of wildlife refuge, since it is virtually impassable to humans, kept out by their own gates, bars, and wire. The animals are at peace. The humans only long to be.

The book splits its small narrative between the animal activities throughout the year, and the comings and goings of "Grandfather," who approaches the border every now and then in contemplation of where he came from. It is a simple, heartfelt way of illustrating the situation to young people without being grim or bogged down in news. I enjoyed the emphasis on nature, and the basic similarity of people no matter where they live.

After living in South Korea for a decade, I’m often surprised by how little people know about the country. This children’s book illustrates a feature of the DMZ that most likely hadn’t heard of - it’s a haven for wildlife. My daughters enjoyed the illustrations, which are gorgeous, and while they are a bit young to comprehend the Korean War and the division of the country, they seemed very interested in the story of Grandfather missing his home. This is one to buy a paper copy of, for sure.

Do yourself and your children a HUGE favor and buy this book! Amazing isn't the right word to describe it! It is beyond amazing!

This will stay in you and your child's memory for a very long time!

This book is so incredibly moving, that I had to read it twice. Uk-Bae Lee has crafted a picture book that is nuanced, illuminating and beautiful. I can't wait to share this work with other and the author truly has a gift of telling a story while shedding light on many important ideas without making the ideas seem preachy to its readers. It is darn near perfect.

I had mixed feelings about this book. There is a beauty portrayed through the artwork and parts of the story and yet there is a sadness to the story. So many wonderful things are happening in the area but at the same time, the DMZ is what divides in the country of Korea into North and South. This would be a great book to read aloud while showing the artwork. However, at the same time, this book will provide an opportunity for a discussion as to the history of the DMZ and what the current situation is.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book that was provided by the publisher through Net Galley. However, the thoughts presented here are my own.

Colorful indeed! wonderfully detailed! WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ, by Uk-Bae Lee, tells of beautiful green meadows, but also about a razor wire fence surrounding this place that makes it difficult to go there. And the animals that make their home there because they are free to come and go as they please. Why would such a place with beautiful green meadows and all kinds of animals be fenced in? There is a river called Imjin that flows from the Yellow Sea that separates North Korea from South Korea.
At the end of this colorful book it informs the reader what the DMZ is called. Amazing character build, and an intriguing little book; along with an exceptional Grandpa that climbs up to the observatory every little bit. To find out why, read WHEN SPRING COMES TO THE DMZ. A great read!

In this picture book, the author has introduced me to the demilitarized section of Korea. It is a 2.5 mile wide and 150 miles long where no humans are allowed - not even for a walk. It has become a place that mountain sheep and others may freely lived. It is a nature preserve by default. There is the hope and dreams of families and friends finding each other in the future even though they can’t now in this book. The book gives a different perspective of Korea.

This children’s picture book is touching and poignant. It focuses on the peacefulness of the animals who thrive in the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between North Korea and South Korea. We see lovely drawings of these little creatures contentedly nurturing their families and building their homes, blissfully unaware of the fact that they live within two barbed wire barricades.

Grandfather, on the other hand, is constantly aware of the wall that divides him from the rest of his family. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Grandfather goes to the wall and looks toward the north, longing for his home and his family.

The book ends with a beautiful vision of hope, a land with no walls where Grandfather can hug his family, surrounded by the happy little animals.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Plough Publishing for a digital advance review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Plough Publishing for the DRC.

This is a lovely way to educate children (and adults) on peace and acceptance.
This beautiful picture book takes a look at the wonderful things that can be found in the portion of land held between the fenced in borders of North and South Korea. This area is know as the DMZ (demilitarized zone) and no humans are allowed to set foot on it.
As a result all kinds of plants and animals you may not find anywhere else in Korea flourish and live in harmony there. The author has hope that one day the fences will come down and all the Koreans can live in harmony together as well.
I hope I get to see that too.

What a beautifully illustrated book! I loved the story. Very poignant. My family can relate to it. Some of my family were left in E. Germany after the war. We didn't have any contact with them until 1990. Sadly, for the older generation, they didn't live long enough to reunite with each other, but us cousins enjoyed meeting! For all people divided and separated due to war, don't lose hope, times change and you may all meet again! I hope some day the countries in the story will be united again. Maybe our children and grandchildren will learn to get along better from this tale.
Big Thank You to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book as I couldn't read it on my Kindle or as a PDF file.

When Spring comes to the DMZ is a beautiful but bittersweet story set in the 4 km-wide demilitarized zone between South Korea and North Korea. Each of the two countries has put up a fence at their respective boundary of the zone to keep people from travelling between the nations. We loosely follow the narrator's grandfather as he makes a pilgrimage to the South Korean fence each season to look longingly to the North through binoculars.

Although the fences are not so great for people, the plants and animals don't see the fences as an obstacle, and without the influence of humans, nature has thrived in the DMZ. Each season has a bit of a description with some gorgeous illustrations about some of the animals that can be found living in the DMZ and what they're doing during that season.

At the back of the book, there is an informative section explaining a bit of the history of the DMZ. This is a great book to start discussions about fences and how they keep people in just as much as they keep people out. I strongly recommend this one for readers of nearly all ages.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Plough Publishing for providing me with a DRC of this book.

This has to be the strangest idea for a children’s book. . . maybe not so much for a kid growing up in South Korea, but still. . .
Vegetation and animals can do whatever they want at the border’s no-man’s-land, but not people. A grandfather is a unifying figure in the story, as he climbs to the observatory to take in the view over and over. The reader is led to believe he’s looking at the landscape and all the animals described, but of course it’s so much more than that.
Despite the small article in the back, a parent should be prepared to explain to the young reader why grandfather can’t go over there.
Best part of this is the artwork, done in the beautiful style of this part of the world.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

The beautiful paintings in this book show the variety of wildlife that has made the DMZ into a place of abundant animal life. Scenes from the changing seasons of the year include salmon swimming upstream to spawn, mountain goats clambering over rocks, and water deer and otters in the river. But readers can also see the fences and troops on each side of the zone, and the rusted pieces of equipment and weapons left behind from the Korean War. A grandfather climbs to the observatory and looks out over the land again and again, then dreams of throwing open the gates and going inside.

The juxtaposition of the animals and their families with the fact that the area is only safe for them because humans from both sides are forbidden to cross is very poignant. Some might see it as something positive coming from that military conflict, but others might sympathize with the grandfather in the story and wish that animals and humans could both exist peacefully in that area without the fences and guards.

This would be useful for comparing/contrasting the types of animals shown in the book with animals from other habitats, or as a followup to a unit on the Korean War.

Amazing images and thoughtful text combine for a children’s book worth considering. Highly recommended.

When Spring Comes to the DMZ is an important book. It is so easy for much of the world to forget the war that happened more than half a century ago, and the countries and people still affected by it. I spent two years in South Korea with the U.S. Army, and made more than one trip to the DMZ. In a country full of people (Seoul, less than an hour's drive from the DMZ, is HUGE and a beautiful city well worth visiting), the DMZ area is somewhat startling in its emptiness. The illustrations in this book capture the odd juxtaposition of the beautiful wildlife with the razor wire, warning signs, and military equipment.

5/5 stars, highly recommend - every school library should have a copy of this book. I've pre-ordered it to have on my personal shelf at home. I don't foresee it being very popular here in the US, which is a shame, but I want to have it to show people and children a different view of the Korean DMZ. Maybe one day the mines and wire will be gone.

When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a beautifully illustrated book about the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea. It is a land where no human may tread. The unintended consequence of this is that it has become an unofficial nature preserve. Animal and plant life flourish in the DMZ because humans are not there. This has a moral lesson in and of itself. However, it also means that families that were torn apart after the ceasefire of the Korean War were never able to get back together.

Throughout the story we follow grandfather who is constantly looking to the north. He is searching for something that the younger generation does not worry about. After all, they have always lived with the separation of the two countries. However, grandfather remembers when he could easily travel through all of Korea, just like the animals do now.

This is a great book for children who are learning about what the DMZ means and how the consequences of a never -ending war can have not only on the people who fought in it, but for the land and animals it was fought around.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read. All opinions are my own.

This is a very touching and a beautifully illustrated book. The author is telling us about DMZ, the demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea, that is now a zone full of beautiful creatures and vegetation.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this beautiful book.

What a hauntinly beautiful tale. The cover lets you know that there is more to this book, than just forest animals.
That being said, I love the comparison between people in the DMZ and the animals in the DMZ, that animals can come and go, but people can't. It really makes it hit home.

This is such a soft way to show children some of what is going on in the world, the razor wire fence being in each picture, the addition of the soldiers, these things induce questions and creates a conversation.

At the end of the book, there is a glossary of sorts, that allows more conversation. It tells you about the animals in the area, what the DMZ is and more information about the terms in the book. I think this is great for adults reading this to younger readers, it allows them to be able to answer the tough questions that I am sure would come after reading this book.

I don't know how to express how I feel reading this because it is mixed of beautiful yet sad. DMZ is something new to me. Never heard about it before and I am glad I read this book, because I always love book that add something to my knowledge. As a bonus, the illustration is really beautiful. It captured the story really well.
I highly recommended everyone of all age to pick this book up :)

*I was graciously given this e-ARC from Plough Publishing House via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.”

When Spring Comes to the DMZ is both beautifully illustrated, and simply written, to allow readers, young children especially, to understand what the space in the DMZ means for wildlife between North and South Korea.

Uk-Bae Lee is talented, and I enjoyed reading this book, and seeing the untouched wildlife that freely moves through this zone of land separated to bring peace.

I do wish there was a little more history of the DMZ taken into account, but I understand that this may not be readily available to many living in that region, and that this is moreso intended for younger children to be understand.

This is a beautifully written and illustrated book. Over the course of a year we see how the division between North and South Korea affects both the people and the animals who live there. The illustrations are delightful and lively. The character of Grandfather embodies all those who have been impacted by the separation. We live in a global society and a book like When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a valuable tool for parents or teachers who wish to help children understand the life and history of other cultures and peoples.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book.

A beautifully illustrated, touching story. Beauty can be found in odd places, and the longing for home is woven throug nicely.

Wow! Not only is this an a compelling and beautiful book, it kindled an interest in me to dig deeper and see the evolution of the DMZ and the two separate countries of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea.

What a way to get people interested in history and the issues facing the peoples of North and South Korea!

Recommended.

<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Plough Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.</i>

When Spring Comes to the DMZ is a book of contradictions. It is a statement by a grandfather about his unhappiness being separated from the North but told by a child who has no background in a unified Korea. Through seasonal trips to the wall that borders the DMZ, we are shown how the DMZ - long abandoned by people - is now something of a wildlife refuge. Beautiful paintings show bucolic scenes tempered by razor wire and warnings in Korean.

The ending felt politicized to some extent (written originally in 2010 but advocating reunification at some level) and I wonder if this is the original intent of the author. I worried for all the animals wandering amongst the mines and (probably unwarrantedly) worried children would never grasp how destructive and dangerous the land there and in other demilitarized zones can be. Still, there is nothing like this on the market. For that and the pictures, this book should be considered. But for those libraries with Korean patrons, I would ask them their opinion and I would love to know the opinion of both Korean Americans and South Koreans.

This is a touching story with beautiful illustrations. The story shares the beauty and growth that continues in the DMZ as the narrator's grandfather visits during each season looking north in longing to his home land. Apparently the DMZ is a strip of land that has become a wild life refuge between North and South Korea. Uk-Bae Lee skillfully uses this area to portray its natural beauty while also conveying the sadness of war, separation and loss. In addition to the growth and beauty of the animals and land, there are images showing the soldiers in training.

This is appropriate for children and parents who want to show their children how war and separation causes pain but still provides moments of beauty. I highly recommend it.

Source: NetGalley.

A beautiful depiction of the natural scenery of Korea with accurately painted wildlife juxtaposed with razor wire, unexploded bombs and rusted out train cars. This is a poignant plea for sanity and peaceful reunification of the land and the families caught up in the horrors of a perpetual ceasefire.

This is a children's book that is really more for adults, although I think it is good to let children know that these things are out there, too.

Wedged between World War Two and Vietnam, the Korean War is often overlooked, even though it still has a huge effect on world issues today.

When Spring Comes to the DMZ (the demilitarised zone that separates North and South Korea) shows what can happen when nature is left to reclaim a place abandoned by humans due to disaster.

The book is also a reminder that – to this day – families are still torn apart by a conflict that began over six decades ago.

The book brings into mind recent stories about other such places (such as the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine), and would make a good starting point for discussions with younger readers both about history and human nature.

South Korean author and artist Uk-Bae Lee has crafted an enchanting book that contrasts the wildlife that now thrive in the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea with the military men who keep the two peoples apart. Lee’s softly tinted, detailed illustrations hail back to an earlier time, reminding me of Lois Lenski’s Strawberry Girl, Berta and Elmer Haders’s The Big Snow, or any of Marguerite de Angeli’s beautiful books.

In When Spring Comes to the DMZ, a boy and his grandfather observe the seasons come and go in the demilitarized zone, while the grandfather pines for his former home in North Korea. The book is touching and beautiful, as appealing to adults as to children. Highly recommended.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Annick Press in exchange for an honest review.

When Spring Comes to the DMZ- is a stunningly illustrated picturebook. Uk-Bae Lee sneaks us into the middle of the forbidden ecological gem flourishing in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a heavily fortified military gray boundary dividing North and South Korea. We see glimpses of contrast...razor wire fences, armed military soldiers training and guarding their side, and we feel the tension of two sides lacking cohesion. And we see lush floral and fauna, an abundance of animal activity, and the woven perfection of a healthy protected ecosystem. Sometimes you can see things of immense beauty where one expects to see only unfriendly sterile silence. And sometimes the natural beauty that comes invited or not- will thrive in those places, in spite of the once unwelcoming space. This book has wide age appeal and can offer various purposes, from discourse about habitats to human ecology to boundaries formed by conflict. I love the diversity of illustrations and formats; borders, double spreads, full bleeds, vignettes. Such a clever scaffolding to the narrative. I also love the details in the architecture, the street signs, and the animals frolicking in their perfect home and space. This is a really high quality picturebook that I would recommend for all ages. I think emerging thinkers to developed would have a lot of interesting responses to this book.

"When Spring Comes to the DMZ" is a beautifully illustrated and valuable children's book. I really liked how there were descriptions of nature along the DMZ as well as the military presence. I think this book would be so great to have in a classroom or for parents to read at home because it can help teach kids (and adults) about the DMZ and the Korean peninsula in an easy to understand way.

This book, The Spring comes to the DMZ, is an ARC from Plough Publishing.
It is a well illustrated and descriptive picture book that follows a Korean Grandfather as he views life within the Demilitarized Zone in Korea. The descriptive images of open skies, animals, and vegetation that are illustrated and the story of how the Grandfather yearns to see the other side provides a story of how life continues to prosper within the zone, and yet how it continues to deter life.
At the end of the book is a short, informative epilogue on the History of South and North Korea and how the DMZ began. Very informative for both young readers and adults.
Would definitely like to see this book in my Local library.
Thank you to Plough Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with this book. To the author UK-Bae Lee, thank you for creating a book so that the world could have some understanding about living within a divided country.

A look at the animals that have made the DMZ between North and South Korea home, how activities around the DMZ change with the seasons for both animals and people. And how many people long to be able to cross that place where the animals roam freely.

How do you broach the subject of old military actions and the divisions between countries and politics with kids? The author of this book has chosen to use animals living peacefully and contrast it with the activities of soldiers going through practice maneuvers in this book, and the way the division is breaking one old man’s heart. In the back of the book are more details about how the DMZ in Korea came to be, why many animals thrive in this space now, and what people who seek reunification of the Koreas desire. I know of absolutely no other books for younger kids that dare to tackle the topic of Korean division and reunification. I also don’t know of any other book that looks at rare animals of Korea. This book is a tactful look at the ways that war can tear people apart and the ways that peace can bring life. Definitely recommended for kids who live in Korea or who are about to visit Korea. Also may be a good book to read for middle grade kids studying the Korean War and older students looking at themes and symbolism in literature. And, of course, also a good book for animal lovers and those studying rare and endangered species of the world.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This beautifully illustrated book will be an important addition to any library. As a book intended for a younger audience, it sensitively conveys the story of a difficulty reality in a way that helps children understand the situation without unduly frightening them. It is a valuable book for any teacher, librarian, or parent planning a history or cultural lesson for young children.

I found this book touching and poignant, not knowing too much about the subject myself, but I do not feel ready to use it as an educator. I do not need a book on this subject for my classroom in Italy currently, but I think it was very sensitively written and suitable for young readers, so should the need arise I would not hesitate to use this one.
The illustrations are beautiful and the pace of the book is very calming.

This is a lovely story about a terrible part of history (and present). There would be a lot to unpack for a child, making this a better picture book for an older reader and read aloud with an adult, but I do believe it is a good story for a child nonetheless. The child telling the story doesn't necessarily have the whole story of the demilitarized zone, but he sees the changing of the seasons through the animals that live there and the people who guard both sides. The illustrations are striking in the way they juxtapose natural beauty with fences, razor wire, and weapons. This should invite a lot of conversations and contemplation.

Loved reading this! I wasn't sure what to expect, but this book is so much more than I first thought! So good!

When Spring Comes to The DMZ by Uk-Bae Lee is a surprise of the best kind. Children in Korea definitely deserve this one (and it has been available in Korean since 2010), but I'm glad that even those who do not read Korean will be able to access this picture book now.

The illustrations are genuinely breathtaking, with a soft light to them that makes them incredibly easy on the eye. The style actually reminds me of books I enjoyed in my own childhood, and I think adults and children alike will find comfort in it.

I really enjoyed the way the story went through each season in the DMZ. It allows the reader to fully experience the wildlife haven that this area has become over the years, and to see the types of wildlife that have been able to thrive in this sanctuary. I didn't expect to see the character of Grandfather, longing for his home, as part of each season, but it made a lot of sense to see him. I think it's a beautiful way to show that although there is beauty in the DMZ, there is still intense trauma in a divide that need not exist.

I definitely recommend this picture book for all ages. I think it's an important look into a complex issue, as well as a lovely display of nature and seasonal changes.

A beautiful way to handle a hard topic with children (the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea). I enjoyed the layers that allow for discussion of grief and peace (or its absence) if a child is ready. The illustrations soften some of the harshness without shying away it. Educational and inspiring, for young and old alike. Definitely recommend to any parents wanting to help their kids know more about history and other countries.

There was something heartbreaking, yet poetic about this picture book. The illustrations complemented the story really well.

A really powerful story with beautiful illustrations. Highly recommend for kids and adults. In an ideal world, the DMZ wouldn't exist, and peace would reign.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but was very curious. I was surprised. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful. And the story was actually very powerful. We often times forget how our actions effect others and the world around us. This book is a nice reminder. And also a small history lesson.

A beautifully illustrated lesson for children that from destruction and loss can come beauty and new life. In the war ravaged, bomber out husk of the Korean demilitarized zone new life is finding its way, from flowers to fawns.
It is a short and simple enough read but I think the images will be the most important thing for young readers, what it shows them and what it represents.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful, beautiful pictures. Best part about the book. I knew virtually nothing about the DMZ, so it was interesting for me to learn something new...and from a picture book.

Great book on Korean history, that kids would enjoy reading to learn more about world history. Beautiful art as well.